Urban Camping Wascana Park Style

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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'An agreement was struck to allow 48 hours for the sacred fire to burn out and the teepee to be removed.'

Holy shit..........that must have been one helluva a huge campfire.


Campfires by law are limited to being 1/2 metre high X 1/2 metre in diameter. If it was any bigger than that, the whole kit and caboodle should be in jail!
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
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http://www.cjme.com/2018/09/07/court-orders-wascana-park-protestors-to-get-out/


A Saskatchewan judge has ordered the protesters with the Justice
for our Stolen Children camp to take down their teepees and leave
Wascana Park. The ruling gives authority to the Provincial Capital
Commission and government to forcibly remove all teepees and
property from Wascana Park. Police can arrest anyone who
interferes with the removal of the teepees or resists the order
to get out and may be brought before the court to show why
they should not be cited in contempt.

The Regina Police Service said the first course of action Chief
Evan Bray will take is to read over the decision, reflect on the
order and consult with stakeholders. Police retain discretion
as to the enforcement (or lack thereof I'm assuming?) of the
order. Police indicated there is still time to communicate with
all parties in order to find a peaceful resolution.
 
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Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
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I don't advocate anything illegal.
I'd like to see us all follow the
same rules though, and not
laws enforced for some, but not
for others for appearances sake.
That's just not right, and sure does
not advocate for equality.

If laws are enforced for some, but
not for others, then that's just
bullshit, and the police lose more
respect, and animosity grows
between those that respect follow
the rules, and those that don't have
to. That doesn't lead to harmony....


.....and here we are today.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
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Regina, Saskatchewan
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/forthwith

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/forthwith

Camp will remain over the weekend
Members of the Justice for our Stolen Children camp have kept
an open line with the government through their lawyer about the
and say their understanding is they can remain in the park over
the weekend.

As of Friday afternoon, the camp hadn’t finished reading through
the entire 56-page decision and was in the process of speaking
to their lawyers. Pitawanakwat said they still need to meet with
lawyers before deciding on an appeal.

I wonder if this is what Judge Wilkinson meant when ordering the
camp dismantled and vacated forthwith?
 
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Twin_Moose

Hall of Fame Member
Apr 17, 2017
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Judge orders removal of Indigenous protest camp

Does the Police chief have any balls at all?

REGINA - A Saskatchewan judge has ordered a group of protesters to remove their teepees from the lawn outside the provincial legislature.
Protesters started camping at the site at the end of February to bring attention to racial injustice and the disproportionate number of First Nations children in care. A few protesters were removed by police in June but the camp was set up again two days later and officers have held off ever since.
The province went to court seeking an order to evict the protesters, arguing the Justice for our Stolen Children Camp violated bylaws and made it hard to maintain the land across from the legislature.
Justice Ysanne Wilkinson agreed, saying society achieves more through order than disorder.
"The protesters' claim to a right to encamp around the clock, on a permanent or indefinite basis ... is not one that can be endorsed by this court," she wrote in a ruling released Friday.
"The protesters' occupation of the west lawn, in the shadow of the most influential building in the province, although claimed in pursuit of heartfelt grievances, serves in the end to diminish the rights of all others to access the space and to enjoy the same fundamental freedoms and values claimed by the occupiers."
She also dismissed an application by six protesters to have their arrests in June declared unlawful. None of the six were ever charged by police.
"Police are hereby authorized to arrest, or arrest and remove, any person" who is violating the order to vacate the camp, Wilkinson said.
Some of the protesters, occupying about 15 teepees on the site, spoke to reporters later Friday. They plan to stay over the weekend while consulting with lawyers.
Robyn Pitawanakwat told CJME radio in Regina that they believe they have permission from the province to stay awhile longer.
The camp is important, she added. "People know to come here to find us here. This is a beacon for them, of a different way of interacting with bureaucracy."
One of the group's lawyers, Dan LeBlanc, said the protesters have 30 days to decide whether or not to appeal to a higher court. He anticipated the camp would be dismantled before then, although there will likely be discussions about how it should be taken down.
"We hope there's some allowances from government to allow the camp to be dismantled in a culturally appropriate way," he said.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations issued a release saying an appeal is likely and the organization will continue to support the protesters.
"It is a terrible day when the provincial government puts a bylaw before families standing up for their rights," said vice-chief Heather Bear, adding she's worried about police ejecting families with children at the camp.
Regina police Chief Evan Bray said in a release that he will be taking time to read the decision.
"As the Regina Police Service retains discretion as to the manner of enforcement of the Order, there is time to communicate with all parties with the goal of achieving a peaceful resolution," he said.
Central Services Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said in a statement that the government expects protesters to abide by the order within a reasonable time.
"We are fully supportive of peaceful protests but the act of overnight camping, burning combustibles and erecting structures in the park cannot be done without the proper permits and approvals, as confirmed by today's court order."

Another interesting review that the Province is looking at

Sask. review considers stricter rules for rural trespassing

The province is considering changes to its trespassing law that would make it illegal to enter any rural property without prior consent.
The review follows calls from farmers to crack down on rural crime and strengthen property rights in Saskatchewan.
Here's what the questionnaire asks: "Should Saskatchewan legislation provide that all access by members of the public to rural property requires the prior express permission of the rural land owner or occupier regardless of the activity and failure to secure that consent constitutes an offence?"

"I think the law should be the same for everyone, it shouldn't make any difference who you are.' - SARM president Ray Orb

It then asks how that permission would need to be sought or granted. The questionnaire opened on Aug. 10 but the Ministry of Justice said it will be advertised publicly within the next week.
The existing law in Saskatchewan, which came into effect in 2009, makes it an offence to enter a property if the owner objects. One way for the owner to object is to post 'Do Not Trespass' signs.
If caught and found guilty, a trespasser can be made to pay up to $2,000.

Reeve calls for stronger law

Arlynn Kurtz, the reeve of the RM of Fertile Belt in Stockholm, Sask., first called for the trespassing law to be bolstered at the bear pit session of the annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention in March.
The proposal was met with applause from the crowd.
Kurtz said Friday he was pleased to see the law is under review.
If the change proposed in the review was implemented, Kurtz said it would bring the legislation closer to what exists in Alberta.
That province makes it an offence to enter cultivated land without permission from the owner or occupier, or to stay there when they have been asked to leave.

'It's in the back of everybody's minds'

Kurtz's call for changes to the legislation came a month after Gerald Stanley was acquitted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Colten Boushie.
Boushie, an Indigenous man, was on Stanley's rural property near Biggar, Sask. at the time of his death in 2016.
"What we stated was that if you are coming into a person's yard, you can come down the driveway, you go to the house or to someone in the yard, you express why you're there, what you need and anything beyond that is, you're trespassing and it's a chargeable offence," said Kurtz.
He said biosecurity for crops is also a concern, with farmers saying clubroot brought in on an outside vehicle can be devastating to a farm.

FSIN not in favour of change

Bobby Cameron, the chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said his organization has not been consulted about the review.
Although the province said it had notified the FSIN, he said he was not aware of it and feels the review is a political move on the part of the government.
"They aren't going to cater to First Nations people, they're going to cater to those people who are voting, which are the non-First Nation people."
He said some Saskatchewan First Nations are preparing to enact bylaws that would consider conservation officers to be trespassers on that land.

SARM welcomes review

Justice Minister Don Morgan declined to be interviewed but issued a statement saying the FSIN was notified.
The Ministry of Justice website said the trespassing legislation will not affect First Nations' hunting and fishing rights.
SARM president Ray Orb said SARM's push for tighter laws and steeper penalties is not related to the Gerald Stanley case because his membership had concerns about the existing legislation when it was passed in 2009.
"I think the law should be the same for everyone, it shouldn't make any difference who you are," he said.
"Unfortunately, some people may take that as, the perception that First Nations people are singled out but that's not the case at all.
"It's geared at everyone that travels out in rural Saskatchewan."
Orb welcomed the review, saying any new legislation should have tougher penalties for trespassers.
He said it should also include provisions that allow people to seek help in an emergency, and that it could help address issues with fires being lit on rural property.
Orb believes the change will be an additional deterrent to anyone who might consider illegal hunting or vandalism on rural land.

I hope they do tighten up trespassing laws, but it would hurt FN narrative of sharing the land, even though the are breaking their own narrative by restricting the conservation officers on reserve land.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
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LINK: http://www.620ckrm.com/2018/09/07/justice-for-our-stolen-children-protest-camp-ordered-to-vacate/


Upon learning of the court’s decision, Saskatchewan’s
Minister Responsible for the Provincial Capital
Commission Ken Cheveldayoff said:

“We are pleased with the decision made by the Court.
We expect the Justice for our Stolen Children Camp
will abide by the Court Order and remove the tepees
and other structures from Wascana Centre within a
reasonable time. If they fail to obey the court order,
the order gives the Wascana Centre Authority and
the police the full authority to remove these structures.”

“Again, we are fully supportive of peaceful protests but
the act of overnight camping, burning combustibles and
erecting structures in the park cannot be done without
the proper permits and approvals, as confirmed by
today’s court order.”

The Police have always had full authority to enforce
the law and remove the structures, etc...but the hold
up is that the irregular campers and chief of police
need time to read the Judge's decision as it's all of
56 pages, and that will take time, etc...

I read it through Friday evening. Took less than an
hour. Worked all day, then took the Grandkids out for
the evening to a function at Mosaic Stadium for several
hours, and then after the kids where put down for the
night and before I retired for the evening to read the
the book I'm currently reading, I read the 56 page
decision. It wasn't 56,000 pages, but 56. Reading it
through in depth takes less than an hour.
 
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Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
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Regina, Saskatchewan
The Judge in her decision used the term "Forthwith" for the
timeframe to vacate the campsite. I'm curious what the
"Reasonable Time" above means in relation to "forthwith" that
the Judge used?
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
25,722
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Regina, Saskatchewan
My Girlfriend & I had company for coffee this morning, then went of
for a bit to eat, grabbed a couple of sacks of dog food at CowTown,
and a leisurely drive (Sunday afternoon style = about 15km/h from
end to end) through the Park. I can say that nothing has come down,
or is being prepared to come down in the campsite. The one teepee
is smoking away like a chimney, and one one guy sitting on a chair
(no visitors or other irregular campers) outdoors in the whole campsite
and that was several teepee's away from the smoking teepee.

I tell you, the Wascana Authority really should have turned on the
sprinklers on that one day in June when they could have, between the
police arresting (but not charging) a few of the irregular campers, and
the camp being up and running again in that 36 hour window in June.
 
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Mowich

Hall of Fame Member
Dec 25, 2005
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http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/forthwith

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/forthwith

Camp will remain over the weekend
Members of the Justice for our Stolen Children camp have kept
an open line with the government through their lawyer about the
and say their understanding is they can remain in the park over
the weekend.

As of Friday afternoon, the camp hadn’t finished reading through
the entire 56-page decision and was in the process of speaking
to their lawyers. Pitawanakwat said they still need to meet with
lawyers before deciding on an appeal.

I wonder if this is what Judge Wilkinson meant when ordering the
camp dismantled and vacated forthwith?


adverb: forthwith

- (especially in official use) immediately; without delay.
synonyms: at once, instantly, directly, right away, straightaway, posthaste, without delay, without hesitation, speedily, promptly

Nope, not even close, Ron...........not even close.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
25,722
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Regina, Saskatchewan



With "Rights" come "Responsibilities"....

Link: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100028710/1100100028783
(This is from Treaty 6)

And the undersigned Chiefs and Headmen, on their own behalf
and on behalf of all other Indians inhabiting the tract within ceded,
do hereby solemnly promise and engage to strictly observe this
treaty, and also to conduct and behave themselves as good and
loyal subjects of Her Majesty the Queen. They promise and engage
that they will, in all respects, obey and abide by the law, that they
will maintain peace and good order.

On that note, using the Treaties as a defense for not obeying the law
shows me that the FSIN Spokesperson needs to read Treaty 6 before
speaking to the media again.
 
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Twin_Moose

Hall of Fame Member
Apr 17, 2017
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You know it will be dragged on as long as possible

'It just feels like home': Justice for Our Stolen Children camp supporters plan for future
As the last of the Queen City Marathon runners run by Wascana Park on a quiet Sunday afternoon, with cheers ringing in the distance, elders and camp supporters sat down in a circle to discuss the next steps and future of Justice for Our Stolen Children camp.
On Friday, a judge issued a decision that the remaining teepees at the protest camp must come down from the public park and that police were authorized to arrest and remove people contravening the order.
Camp supporters said they were still consulting with their lawyers about the decision and had made no decisions about what would happen next.
"Everybody was ready to stick out the winter. Everybody was ready to stay here as long as it takes to see some change," said Ronald Elliott, who has been a regular visitor at the camp for the past few months.
The camp has been up for 194 days, calling for justice and child welfare reform on behalf of Indigenous people, despite repeated calls from the Saskatchewan government that the protest must come down from the public park.
After Friday's ruling, Elliot said he didn't see the likelihood that the camp would remain as long as he believed it would, a fact that he said left him saddened.
"Everybody eventually accepted me. It just feels like home now," he said.
Elliott said he feels child welfare reform is particularly needed, even if the camp is removed.
"I've had brothers and sisters too that have had their kids taken away for periods of time. That's not fun," said Elliott. "It's not nice for the kids other. They get detached and estranged."

Cold nights only a small hardship

Darin Milo has been camping at the park since it first began in February.
"The nights are very cold — some of them," he said. "You keep pushing. You realize there's a lot of people that go through a lot of hardships. Sometimes that cold weather doesn't seem so bad compared to what other people go through."
One of the issues that came up over the course of court proceedings was that protesters had not applied for a permit.
Minister of Central Services Ken Cheveldayoff said the judge's decision confirmed "the act of overnight camping, burning combustibles and erecting structures in the park cannot be done without the proper permits and approvals."
However, Milo said that he questioned what kind of government would require people to apply and pay for a permit to only decide later whether or not they would allow the protest.
"That's fundamentally against a free society as a whole," he said.
Robyn Pitawanakwat, a camp spokesperson, said campers understood they had permission to remain at the site through the weekend. Nine teepees remain on the site on Sunday.
Pitawanakwat said that despite what happens to the site, people still need to have an "embassy" where they could come and share their stories, including those of loss and trauma.
"That need remains, whether or not we're allowed to be here," she said. "There is a need for families to have a place to come and to have people that will advocate for them."

Someone advocating for a job, office and staff, maybe move right in to the Parliament building ;)
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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90% of the tips are empty and not the property of the 3 campers still there.

They can't stop removal of someone else's property.
 

Mowich

Hall of Fame Member
Dec 25, 2005
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Eagle Creek
You know it will be dragged on as long as possible

'It just feels like home': Justice for Our Stolen Children camp supporters plan for future

Someone advocating for a job, office and staff, maybe move right in to the Parliament building ;)

Just feels like home, eh.............I had no idea that some Saskatchewan Indians were still living in teepees. Must make it pretty hard to put that 52 inch TV on the wall.



"....people still need to have an "embassy...." Fine, they want an embassy they can build one on the reserve with their own money and not a single cent from taxpayers. Not that having one will change a single thing but it will give them something to do which from what I have been reading about this bunch, they surely need.


 

Twin_Moose

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Apr 17, 2017
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If one is talking about Embassies is one not proclaiming to be separate from the country therefore all perks from the country should be cut off to the foreign nation.